Apparatus, system and method to prevent fogging of eyewear

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system and method to prevent fogging of glasses worn by an wearer has a mask made from a filtration material. The mask has a left side and a right side. A strap extends from the mask to hold the mask in position on the wearer. A vent is positioned on the left side and the right side of the mask. An adhesive foam layer extends across the mask and the strap to attach the mask to the glasses. Arms may extend from the glasses toward ears of the wearer. The adhesive foam layer attaches the mask to the arms of the glasses. A flap extends from the foam layer. Pulling the flap removes the adhesive foam layer from the glasses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a face mask adapted for use with eyewear, such as sunglasses, to prevent fogging of an interior-facing lens of the eyewear. More specifically, the face mask has a foam cell material spread across a top of the mask to adhere to a lower frame portion to arms of the sunglasses.

Cities and other heavily urbanized areas may suffer from congestion at locations across the world due to relatively high human density. Public transportation mediums seeking to address the movement needs of the local population are often run at maximum capacity as a consequence, and individual passengers on subway train cars may be in physical contact as the train travels to its next stop. Given that infection disease, bacteria, allergens and/or other undesirable human-produced biologic material may easily spread in such a high density environment, many passengers choose to wear face masks, similar to those used by surgeons in an operating room, for example, to guard against inhaling such material.

However, such readily-available and mass-produced face masks may not include specific features directed towards adhering and/or otherwise combining the body of the mask with eyewear, such as sunglasses, for example. Thus, wearing sunglasses in combination with the type of face mask described here may require the user to select whether to place the lenses of the sunglasses above the face mask, or to pull the face mask above the lenses.

Choosing to pull the mask above the lenses results in obscuring the wearers line of vision through the sunglasses, an undesirable result. The remaining option, positioning the sunglasses on and/or above the face mask results in hot and moist air rising through the mask upon exhalation by the user. The relatively cooler interior-facing surfaces of the lenses of the sunglasses allow the moist air to condense, resulting in the fogging up the lens surface, also obscuring and/or otherwise interfering with the wearers line of vision through the sunglasses.

Thus, there is a need for an inexpensive, readily-available surgical-type face mask adapted to combine/attach easily (i.e., elongated foam cell material, or a traditional semi-viscous liquid/gel coating on the contact surface between the face mask and the sunglasses) with traditional sunglasses, of a variety of shapes and/or styles, organized so exhaled air from the nostrils may be appropriately directed outwards through the face mask, rather than rising upward to fog up the interior lens of the sunglasses. Furthermore, such a mask should remain in a fixed position relative to the wearers face, permitting the wearer to freely turn and/or move his or her head while commuting in a public train and/or bus, for example, to read material carried in hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a face mask adapted for use with eyewear, such as sunglasses, to prevent fogging of an interior-facing lens of the eyewear. More specifically, the face mask has a foam cell material spread across a top of the mask as intended to adhere to a lower frame portion and the arms of the sunglasses.

In an embodiment, an apparatus has a mask made from a filtration material. The mask may have a left side and a right side. A strap may extend from the mask to hold the mask in position on the wearer. A vent may be positioned on the left side and the right side of the mask. An adhesive foam layer may extend across the mask and the strap to attach the mask to the glasses. Arms may extend from the glasses toward ears of the wearer. The adhesive foam layer may attach the mask to the arms of the glasses. A flap extends from the foam layer. Pulling the flap removes the adhesive foam layer from the glasses.

Further, in an embodiment, a system to direct exhaled air flow away from the eyes of a user has a mask contoured to conform to facial features of the user. The mask may be defined by sides connected by a top and a bottom positioned parallel to the top. The mask may have a filtration membrane. Fixation means may secure the mask to the user. Mesh ports on the mask may be positioned adjacent to the sides of the mask. The mesh ports may direct exhaled air flow away from the mask. A vapor barrier attachment may be between the top of the mask and glasses worn by the user. The vapor barrier attachment may form a sealed layer between the mask and the glasses to prevent air exhaled from fogging the glasses.

Moreover, in an embodiment, a method secures a face mask against glasses worn by a wearer. The face mask may be positioned on the wearer. Straps of the face mask may be extended around the wearer. An adhesive foam layer of the face mask may be adhered on the glasses and arms extending from the glasses toward ears of the wearer. The face mask may be secured against the glasses.

An advantage of the invention is to provide a mask with vents positioned adjacent to the right side and the left side on the mask where air exhaled from the user of the mask may be directed outwards through the vents.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a mask with a filtration membrane where permeability of the filtration membrane may be selected relative to the respiration rate of a user.

Yet another advantage of the invention is to provide a mask that may be positioned for placement on the face of a user between a first mode and a second mode where the first mode brings the cover closer to an ear of the user and further where the second mode brings the cover further away from the ear of the user.

Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a mask with a foam layer formed above and in contact with the top of the mask, across the right side to the left side of the mask and along the securing strap to contact and to adhere to arms of the eyewear.

Still further another advantage of the invention is to provide a mask with a foam layer that deforms to accommodate eyewear.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other purposes, features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the face mask adapted for use with eyewear, such as sunglasses, to prevent fogging of the interior-facing lens of the eyewear in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a person wearing sunglasses in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a person wearing sunglasses overlapping the face mask in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a person wearing the face mask while reading and/or using an electronic peripheral in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a person wearing sunglasses with the face mask in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates two positions in which the face mask may be worn in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up inside view of the interior-facing lenses of a pair of sunglasses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally relates to a face mask adapted for use with eyewear, such as sunglasses, to prevent fogging of an interior-facing lens of the eyewear. More specifically, the face mask has a foam cell material spread across a top of the mask to adhere to a lower frame portion to the arms of the sunglasses.

Referring to FIG. 1, removable eyewear, such as a pair of sunglasses 18, are shown as worn on a wearer 10. A protective sheath and/or face mask 20 configured to prevent fogging of an interior-facing lens surface 50 of the sunglasses 18 may be worn in combination with the sunglasses 18 as shown. The mask 20 may have a main body 48 that may be pliable and contoured to accommodate various facial features of the wearer, such as his or her cheekbones, nose, lips, and/or mouth. The mask 20 may be generally rectangular in shape and may be thus defined by a right side 66 and a left side 68 positioned parallel and opposite to the right side 66. Further, the mask may have a top 70 and a bottom 72 positioned parallel and opposite to the top that may define a contour region 40 of the mask 18. In an embodiment, the contour region 40 may seamlessly seal with the sunglasses 18. A foam layer 22, made from, for example, soft closed cell foam may be formed above and in contact with the top 70 of the mask 18 and extend across the right side 66 to the left side 68. The foam layer 22 may also extend along a fixation means, such as a securing strap 74 to contact and to adhere to arms 76 of the sunglasses. As shown in FIG. 1, each arm 76 of the sunglasses 18 may correspond and affix onto an ear 16 of the wearer 10.

In detail, the foam layer 22 may reversibly compress and/or otherwise deform to fit against and accommodate a lower frame portion 86 of the sunglasses 18 to form the contour region 40 across the facial features. An adhesive layer 78 on the foam layer 22 may attach and/or adhere the mask 18 to the sunglasses 18. Moreover, the foam layer 22 may attach to the securing strap 74 by the adhesive layer 78 to the arms 76 of the sunglasses 18 to hold the face mask 18 against the face 14 of the wearer 10.

In an embodiment, the adhesive layer 78 on the foam layer 22 may hold the sunglasses 18 in a desired position to form the contour region 40, where the contour region 40 may press against and/or adhere to a face 14 of the wearer 10. Effectively sealing off the face mask 20 from the sunglasses 18. Accordingly, any and/or all vapor, air and/or moisture associated with human breath exhaled by the wearer 10 may be be directed partially through a filtration membrane 80 on the main body 48 of the face mask 18. The remaining air may partially pass through any gaps due to imperfections in the region 40, and primarily through vents 30 that may be positioned adjacent to the right side 66 and/or the left side 68 of the face mask 18.

The vents 18 may be generally formed from a mesh 32 with intersecting and/or intertwined fibers 82. The relative concentration of the fibers 82 weaved across the vent 18 may vary according to the expected respiratory frequency of the wearer 10. For instance, the wearer 10 may use the face mask 20 in a high human density and low activity environment such as a subway train car, for example. For use in such an environment, the face mask 20 may be made with the fibers 82 in the vent 30 on the mesh 32 intertwined at a relatively high concentration level. Since the wearer 10 may expect to be standing, with minimal movement, for an extended period of time, his or her respiration and/or frequency of breathing may be a standard resting rate, for example. Also, the increased concentration of the mesh 32 may allow for the wearer 10 to inhale air through the face mask 20 without permitting pollutants and/or other undesirable matter from an exterior atmosphere 82 to permeate through and/or enter the face mask 20. Alternatively, should the wearer 10 intend to wear the mask in a high-intensity but low human density environment, such as a soccer field and/or pitch, for example, then fewer fibers 82 may be used to form the mesh to allow for relatively high breathability compared to the above example.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the top 70 and the bottom 72 may connect the right side 66 to the left side 68. Accordingly, the face mask 20 may be generally shaped as a rectangle. The main body 48 may include the filtration membrane 80. The securing strap 74 may extend laterally from the main body 48 of the face mask 18 to hold the face mask 18 in a position desired by the wearer 10 over his or her facial features, i.e. such as the nose 24. The vents 30 may be positioned adjacent to the right side 66 and the left side 68 on the main body 48 of the face mask 18 between the top 70 and the bottom 72.

In an embodiment, a system 88 to direct exhaled air flow away from the eyes of a user is provided. The system has a main body 48 contoured to conform to the wearer 10. The main body 48 has the filtration membrane 80 adapted to trap biologic materials. The biologic materials may be prevented from passing through the filtration membrane 80 to the exterior atmosphere 82 through, for example, the vents 30. The main body 48 may be defined by the right side 66 and the left sides 68 connected by the top 70 and the bottom 72 positioned parallel to the top 70. The securing strap 74 may secure the main body 48 to the wearer 10. The vent 30, may be located next to the right side 66 and the left sides 68 and in between the top 70 and the bottom 72. Further, in an embodiment, the vent 30 may be referred to as a mesh port. The vent 30 may include perforations 34 to direct exhaled air flow outside of the main body 48 to the exterior atmosphere 82.

As described earlier, the foam layer 22 may reversibly compress and/or deform to fit against the lower frame portion 76 of the sunglasses 18 to form the contour region 40. In an embodiment, the contour region 40 may be referred to as an adhesive vapor barrier attachment, and may be between the top of the main body 48 and sunglasses 18 worn by the user. The vapor barrier attachment may form a sealed layer between the main body 48, the sunglasses 18 and the face 15 of the wearer 10 to prevent air exhaled by the wearer 10 from rising upward to contact and/or collect on the interior-facing lens 50 of the sunglasses 18. Air may otherwise be directed through the mesh port to escape the main body 48 into the exterior atmosphere 82. Moreover, in an embodiment, the permeability of the filtration membrane 80 used to form the main body 48 may be selected in view of the intended respiration rate of the user.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tab 60 may extend from the foam layer attaching the securing strap 74 to the arms 76 of the sunglasses 18. The tab 60 may be pulled outwards and/or otherwise away from the arm 96 to remove the foam layer 22 from the arms 96. Accordingly, the face mask 18 may be removed from the sunglasses 18.

Further, in an embodiment, the mesh 32 may have a density suitable for the respiration rate of the user. Also, a flexible ridge 62 may extend lengthwise across the nose 24 of the wearer 10 on the main body 48 of the face mask 20. Adjustment of the flexible ridge 60 may assist in conforming the main body 48 to the nose 24 of the user 10. The securing strap 76 may be defined in greater detail as including a top strap 76 a and a bottom strap 76 b. The top strap 76 a may extend toward the ear 16 and the bottom strap may extend from the bottom 72. Also, in an embodiment, the foam layer 22 may cushion and/or protect the wearer from unwanted movement of the sunglasses 18 onto the main body 48 of the face mask 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, a front view of the sunglasses 18 worn on the face 14 of the wearer 10 is shown. In an embodiment, the wearer 10 may position the sunglasses 18 on the face 14 prior to wearing the face mask 20 to ensure a proper line of sight through the interior-facing lens surface 50 and an exterior-facing lens surface 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower frame portion 86 of the sunglasses 18 may feature no special coating, glue and/or other adhesive that may interfere with the application of the adhesive layer 78 on the foam layer 22 to attach and/or remove the mask 18 to and/or from the sunglasses 18.

Referring to FIG. 3, a front view of the wearer 10 wearing the sunglasses 18 above and/or on top of a conventional face mask 20′ is shown. The conventional face mask 20′ may not include the contour region 40, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, and may instead feature an overlap region 90. The sunglasses 18 may overlap the conventional face mask 20′ in the overlap region 90 to thus allow vapor, air, and/or moisture-laden breath to be exhaled by the wearer through the conventional face mask 20.′ The vapor may rise upwardly to coat the interior-facing lens surface 50 to obscure and/or otherwise interfere with vision through the sunglasses 18.

Referring to FIG. 4, the wearer 10 is shown wearing only the conventional face mask 20′ without the sunglasses 18. The wearer, for example may hold an electronic peripheral 92, such as an e-book, for example, close to the wearer 10. Accordingly, the wearer 10 may easily read and/or view material on the e-book while standing in a crowded environment, such as on a subway train.

Referring to FIG. 5, the wearer 10 may wear the face mask 20 along with the sunglasses 18 in accordance with that described earlier in connection with FIG. 1 and view the electronic peripheral 92 as shown. In an embodiment, the electronic peripheral 92 may not block the face mask 20 in directing airflow exhaled by the wearer 10 through the vents 30 out to the exterior atmosphere 82.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the face mask 20 and/or the system 88 is shown positioned for placement on the face 14 of the wearer 10 in a first mode 36. The first mode 36 may place the main body 48 of the face mask 20 nearer to the ear 16 of the wearer, as shown. FIG. 6B shows the face mask 20 and/or the system 88 positioned for placement on the face 14 of the wearer 10 in a second mode 36′. The second mode 36′ may place the cover further away from the ear of the user.

Referring to FIG. 7, the sunglasses 18 are shown removed from the wearer 10. The arms 96 are shown extending from the lower frame portion 86 of sunglasses 18. As described earlier in FIG. 1, the adhesive layer 78 on the foam layer 22 may attach and/or adhere the mask 18 to the sunglasses 18. In detail, the foam layer 22 may attach to the securing strap 74 by the adhesive layer 78 to the arms 76 of the sunglasses 18 to better hold the face mask 18 in place against the face 14 of the wearer 10.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus to prevent fogging of glasses worn by an wearer, the apparatus comprising: a mask made from a filtration material wherein the mask has a left side and a right side; a strap extending from the mask to hold the mask in position on the wearer; a vent on the left side and the right side of the mask; and an adhesive foam layer extending across the mask and the strap to attach the mask to the glasses wherein the glasses have arms extending from the glasses toward ears of the wearer and further wherein the adhesive foam layer attaches the mask to the arms of the glasses.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a flap on the foam layer wherein pulling the flap removes the adhesive foam layer from the glasses.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a binding on the mask to conform the mask to facial features of the wearer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mask may extend toward the ears of the wearer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filtration material is selected to accommodate the respiratory rate of the user.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a pore on the vent to direct exhaled air from the mask.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing strap is elastic.
 8. A system to direct exhaled air flow away from the eyes of a user, the system comprising: a mask contoured to conform to facial features of the user wherein the mask has a filtration membrane and further wherein the mask has sides connected by a top and a bottom positioned parallel to the top; fixation means to secure the mask to the user; mesh ports on the mask adjacent to the sides of the mask wherein the mesh ports direct exhaled air flow away from the mask; and a vapor barrier attachment between the top of the mask and glasses worn by the user wherein the vapor barrier attachment forms a sealed layer between the mask and the glasses to prevent air exhaled from fogging the glasses.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the filtration membrane is selected in proportion to the respiration rate of the user.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a tab extending from the vapor barrier attachment wherein pulling the tab away from the glasses removes the vapor barrier attachment from the glasses.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein the filtration membrane is selected according to the expected respiratory frequency of the user.
 12. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a ridge on the mask wherein adjustment of the ridge fits the mask to the user.
 13. The system of claim 8 wherein the fixation means extend from the mask toward ears of the user.
 14. The system of claim 8 wherein the mask extends toward ears of the user.
 15. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a foam layer formed between the vapor barrier attachment and the mask wherein the foam layer cushions the glasses worn by the user against the mask.
 16. A method for securing a face mask against glasses worn by a wearer, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the face mask on the wearer; extending straps of the face mask around the wearer; adhering an adhesive foam layer of the face mask on the glasses and arms extending from the glasses toward ears of the wearer; and securing the face mask against the glasses.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: directing air exhaled by the wearer out through the face mask.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: cushioning the wearer against movement of the glasses against the face mask.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: preventing fog from forming on the glasses from air exhaled by the wearer.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: directing air exhaled by the wearer out through the mask. 